La Flor de Hyspia

[LoxyTheReindeer 356]

 

La Flor de Hyspia



Issued on 13th of Maria’s Peace, 132 D.R.

 

The flowers in the arid lands of Hyspia are as varied and beautiful as the people within, due in no small part to the adverse growing conditions. While Hyspia has a dry climate and loose sands in place of fertile soil, it is also located on the coast of a bountiful river; creating a uniquely harsh climate for flowers to seed and make roots. However, once they’ve grown accustomed to these desert lands, they thrive and grow to great heights. 

 

Much like the people, who have endured much hardship and grief, these unique challenges shape the flora of Hyspia, creating beautifully unique specimens able to be found in every garden. 

A previous post has been made on the Flowers of Hyspia- please support it!

Flowers of Hyspia

Agave

 

There are many cactus and succulent plants in the desert, as nature has developed a number of ways to survive the harsh heat. One that stands out is the Agave, a rosette with large, succulent leaves that requires very little water. Its roots have developed to catch rainwater, condensation, and morning dew to survive. But the most interesting thing about Agave is that it can be used to produce an alternative to sugar, as well as create alcoholic beverages. 

 

 

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Desert Primrose

 

Desert Primrose is characterized by its large yellow or white flowers, and its wide-spreading hairy, pale silvery green leaves. These flowers will bloom in spring after heavy winter rains, coloring the desert sands like vibrant tissue paper. After the plant dies, its stems and leaves will curl up like a cage, though it’s quite the hardy plant. Able to survive in any kind of soil and is extremely drought-resistant, which also happens to make it a bit of a nuisance. Don’t plant too much, or it’ll overtake your garden!
 

 

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Apache Plume

 

The Apache Plume is a showy flowering plant that starts as small, roselike white flowers with yellow insides. However, after this initial flower dies off, it re-blooms as a lavender-like flower with long, feathery pink petals with white fuzz. A tall, shrub-like plant, it grows in large clusters and is invaluable for erosion control, especially in the looser sands of the desert. Its bark is known to be white or light gray and often peels, while its leaves are brighter green and a bit hairy, curling under at the edges. It can grow as tall as an elf and flowers in the spring.
 

 

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Iblees’ Claw

 

Iblees’ Claw is an interesting one, it blooms in the summer with trumpet-like pink or pale lavender, exotic-looking flowers. Its bright green leaves are surprisingly soft and covered with fuzz, and when its seed pods are young, they can be picked and eaten like fruit! In fact, some believe these seed pods have anti-inflammatory properties and could be used in medicine. The mature seed pods are where the flower gets its name- as it has a long, curved “claw” that gets caught in fur or on the clothes of a passerby, thus spreading the seed.

 

 

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Desert Mariposa Lily

 

This perennial is a beautiful bright orange, red, or yellow flowering plant that produces several slender-stemmed flowers in a small cluster. Typically on the shorter side, only reaching a bit over a foot tall on average, this flower starts off with a waxy leaf base that withers after the flowers bloom. Its bold colors stand out from the sands, creating a lovely flower enjoyable by all. This beauty is quite rare and is typically found in rockier settings: such as the desert mountains.
 

 

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Anacacho Orchid Tree

 

This rare tree is quite a sight to behold. Only found in the higher elevations of the desert mountains, in the spring its delicate leaves, resembling butterfly wings, will split and produce orchid-like flowers of white or pink. It prefers well-drained soil but is winter-hardy and doesn’t require much water. A smaller tree, only growing up to 12 feet in most cases, it’s quite beautiful once you’ve coaxed it into growing well.
 

 

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Prickly Pear

 

The prickly pear cactus is a humble plant, but a wondrous one. While you’ve no doubt come across this cactus traversing the dunes, you’ve likely not known about how extraordinary it truly is. This cactus produces beautiful, vibrant pink or yellow flowers. When these flowers wilt, they produce fruit in their place- which is where the cactus gets its name from. These fruits can be eaten raw, or juiced to avoid eating the hard, unpleasant seeds. Feel free to pick a few next time you’re in town, just make sure to singe the little hairs in the fruits or handle them with tongs, as the little spiny hairs hurt to touch.
 

 

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Hyspian Moss

 

Hyspian Moss can often be found clinging to orange trees in the orchard or any other type of tall structure that will get it closer to sunlight. While not technically a moss, instead falling into the bromeliad family, it appears as a silvery green moss and sports bright pink flowers on it. It’s also been referred to as “Abuelo’s beard” due to looking like a scraggly, long beard in shape. And if you’re worried about the moss harming the trees– fret not. It merely clings to them for structural support; it will not harm them in any way.
 

 

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Firecracker Vine

 

Personally cultivated by Princess Valencia, these beautiful vines can be found growing along the walls of La Dorada. They love to climb high in the summer to reach as much sunlight as possible and sprout beautiful red, yellow, and white flowers from which they get their name. It’s also known for blooming from early spring well into late summer, as it quite enjoys the Hyspian heat. If you visit Hyspia, you’re sure to see its vibrant colors.

 

These flowers are as diverse and beautiful as the land and climate that shaped them, much like the people of the desert. Whether you’ve history deep-rooted in the desert, or find yourself moving there for a better future, you’ve no doubt found something that connects you to it. Where others see a wasteland of sand, we see the golden shine of sun glinting off the dunes, and this is reflected in the unique flora such a land produces; and the strong, wonderful people it raises. I hope you’ve learned something, and can come to appreciate even the most common of flowers next time you take a stroll.

 

 

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HER ROYAL HIGHNESS, Valencia Belen, 

Princess-Royal of Hyspia, Duchess of La Dorada, and Countess of Rosario

SENORA, Kerina Mondblume,
The Flower Princess of Hyspia 

 

[Bethinwonderland 2213]

Valencia was overjoyed to have this finally published. Thankful for Kerina and the work that she put into it.

[Aquarius 87]

Arvel was quite proud of the work of the Flower Princess and Princess-Royal, what wonderful work indeed! He might have to go around to spot the various flowers on the list!